The state has at least temporarily abandoned an effort to drill on Delta farmland in San Joaquin County, drilling that officials say is needed to help plan Gov. Jerry Brown’s twin tunnels project.

In a process that took more than a year, landowners successfully challenged in court the state’s attempt to use eminent domain to acquire tiny pieces of property to conduct their drilling experiments. On Thursday, the state formally dropped its request.

“They just gave up,” said Stockton attorney Thomas Keeling, who represents the landowners. “Do I think they’ll come back at some point? I don’t know… but part of the takeaway here is Delta landowners who are fighting for the future of their properties can win battles against the state.”

The state Department of Water Resources said Friday that its decision to drop the San Joaquin County eminent domain case was merely to correct a “procedural error.” The department plans to seek the blessing of the California Water Commission to file corrected eminent domain complaints that would allow the work to move forward.